A match is played by two teams, each with a maximum of eleven players; one must be the goalkeeper. A match may not start or continue if either team has fewer than seven players.
\nIf a team has fewer than seven players because one or more players has deliberately left the field of play, the referee is not obliged to stop play and the advantage may be played, but the match must not resume after the ball has gone out of play if a team does not have the minimum number of seven players.
\nIf the competition rules state that all players and substitutes must be named before kick-off and a team starts a match with fewer than eleven players, only the players and substitutes named on the team list may take part in the match upon their arrival.
","lawSectionCategoryName":"Number of players","sectionIndex":"1","images":[],"audio":{"url":"/audio/43623/1696860964-law-3-1.wav","mimeType":"audio/x-wav","duration":28.881746}},{"slug":"number-of-substitutions","content":"The number of substitutes, up to a maximum of five, which may be used in any match played in an official competition will be determined by FIFA, the confederation or the national football association. For men’s and women’s competitions involving the 1st teams of clubs in the top division or senior ‘A’ international teams where competition rules permit a maximum of five substitutes to be used, each team:
has a maximum of three substitution opportunities*
may additionally make substitutions at half-time
*Where both teams make a substitution at the same time, this will count as a used substitution opportunity for both teams. Multiple substitutions (and requests) by a team during the same stoppage in play count as one used substitution opportunity.
If a team has not used the maximum number of substitutes and/or substitution opportunities, any unused substitutes and substitution opportunities may be used in extra time
Where competition rules permit teams to use one additional substitute in extra time, each team will have one additional substitution opportunity
Substitutions may also be made in the period between full-time and the start of extra time, and at half-time in extra time – these do not count as used substitution opportunities.
The competition rules must state:
how many substitutes may be named, from three to a maximum of fifteen
whether one additional substitute may be used when a match goes into extra time (whether or not the team has already used the full number of permitted substitutes)
In senior ‘A’ international team matches, a maximum of fifteen substitutes may be named of which a maximum of six may be used.
In all other matches, a greater number of substitutes may be used provided that:
the teams reach agreement on a maximum number
the referee is informed before the match
If the referee is not informed, or if no agreement is reached before the match, each team is allowed a maximum of six substitutes.
The use of return substitutions is only permitted in youth, veterans, disability and grassroots football, subject to the agreement of the national football association, confederation or FIFA.
The names of the substitutes must be given to the referee before the start of the match. Any substitute not named by this time may not take part in the match.
\nTo replace a player with a substitute, the following must be observed:
\nthe referee must be informed before any substitution is made
the player being substituted:
\nreceives the referee’s permission to leave the field of play, unless already off the field, and must leave by the nearest point on the boundary line unless the referee indicates that the player may leave directly and immediately at the halfway line or another point (e.g. for safety/security or injury)
must go immediately to the technical area or dressing room and takes no further part in the match, except where return substitutions are permitted
if a player who is to be substituted refuses to leave, play continues
The substitute only enters:
\nduring a stoppage in play
at the halfway line
after the player being replaced has left
after receiving a signal from the referee
The substitution is completed when a substitute enters the field of play; from that moment, the replaced player becomes a substituted player and the substitute becomes a player and can take any restart.
\nAll substituted players and substitutes are subject to the referee’s authority, whether they play or not.
","lawSectionCategoryName":"Substitution procedure","sectionIndex":"3","images":[],"audio":{"url":"/audio/43623/1696861313-law-3-3.wav","mimeType":"audio/x-wav","duration":88.524218}},{"slug":"changing-the-goalkeeper","content":"Any of the players may change places with the goalkeeper if:
\nthe referee is informed before the change is made
the change is made during a stoppage in play
If a named substitute starts a match instead of a named player and the referee is not informed of this change:
\nthe referee allows the named substitute to continue playing
no disciplinary action may be taken against the named substitute
the named player can become a named substitute
the number of substitutions is not reduced
the referee reports the incident to the appropriate authorities
If a substitution is made during the half-time interval or before extra time, the procedure must be completed before the match restarts. If the referee is not informed, the named substitute may continue to play, no disciplinary action is taken and the matter is reported to the appropriate authorities.
\nIf a player changes places with the goalkeeper without the referee’s permission, the referee:
\nallows play to continue
cautions both players when the ball is next out of play but not if the change occurred during half-time (including half-time of extra time) or the period between the end of the match and the start of extra time and/or penalties (penalty shoot-out)
For any other offences:
\nthe players are cautioned
play is restarted with an indirect free kick, from the position of the ball when play was stopped
A player who is sent off:
\nbefore submission of the team list cannot be named on the team list in any capacity
after being named on the team list and before kick-off may be replaced by a named substitute, who cannot be replaced; the number of substitutions the team can make is not reduced
after the kick-off cannot be replaced
A named substitute who is sent off before or after the kick-off may not be replaced.
","lawSectionCategoryName":"Players and substitutes sent off","sectionIndex":"6","images":[],"audio":{"url":"/audio/43623/1696861807-law-3-6.wav","mimeType":"audio/x-wav","duration":31.190113}},{"slug":"extra-persons-on-the-field-of-play","content":"The coach and other officials named on the team list (with the exception of players or substitutes) are team officials. Anyone not named on the team list as a player, substitute or team official is an outside agent.
\nIf a team official, substitute, substituted or sent-off player or outside agent enters the field of play, the referee must:
\nonly stop play if there is interference with play
have the person removed when play stops
take appropriate disciplinary action
If play is stopped and the interference was by:
\na team official, substitute, substituted or sent-off player, play restarts with a direct free kick or penalty kick
an outside agent, play restarts with a dropped ball
If a ball is going into the goal and the interference does not prevent a defending player playing the ball, the goal is awarded if the ball enters the goal (even if contact was made with the ball) unless the interference was by the attacking team.
","lawSectionCategoryName":"Extra persons on the field of play","sectionIndex":"7","images":[],"audio":{"url":"/audio/43623/1696861849-law-3-7.wav","mimeType":"audio/x-wav","duration":64.252063}},{"slug":"player-outside-the-field-of-play","content":"If a player who requires the referee’s permission to re-enter the field of play re-enters without the referee’s permission, the referee must:
\nstop play (not immediately if the player does not interfere with play or a match official or if the advantage can be applied)
caution the player for entering the field of play without permission
If the referee stops play, it must be restarted:
\nwith a direct free kick from the position of the interference
with an indirect free kick from the position of the ball when play was stopped if there was no interference
A player who crosses a boundary line as part of a playing movement does not commit an offence.
","lawSectionCategoryName":"Player outside the field of play","sectionIndex":"8","images":[],"audio":{"url":"/audio/43623/1696861926-law-3-8.wav","mimeType":"audio/x-wav","duration":39.83907}},{"slug":"goal-scored-with-an-extra-person-on-the-field-of-play","content":"If, after a goal is scored, the referee realises, before play restarts, that an extra person was on the field of play when the goal was scored, and that person interfered with play:
\nthe referee must disallow the goal if the extra person was:
\na player, substitute, substituted player, sent-off player or team official of the team that scored the goal; play is restarted with a direct free kick from the position of the extra person
an outside agent who interfered with play unless a goal results as outlined above in ‘Extra persons on the field of play’; play is restarted with a dropped ball
the referee must allow the goal if the extra person was:
\na player, substitute, substituted player, sent-off player or team official of the team that conceded the goal
an outside agent who did not interfere with play
In all cases, the referee must have the extra person removed from the field of play.
\nIf, after a goal is scored and play has restarted, the referee realises an extra person was on the field of play when the goal was scored, the goal cannot be disallowed. If the extra person is still on the field the referee must:
\nstop play
have the extra person removed
restart with a dropped ball or free kick as appropriate
The referee must report the incident to the appropriate authorities.
","lawSectionCategoryName":"Goal scored with an extra person on the field of play","sectionIndex":"9","images":[],"mobileTitleOverride":null,"desktopTitleOverride":"Goal scored with an extra person\non the field of play","transitionBlock":[],"audio":{"url":"/audio/43623/1696861975-law-3-9.wav","mimeType":"audio/x-wav","duration":91.850023}},{"slug":"team-captain","content":"The substitute is sent off (red card), must leave the technical area and may not be replaced. The number of substitutions the team is permitted to make is not reduced.
","question":"The referee shows the substitute a second yellow card and a red card. The substitute is sent off, must leave the technical area and may not be replaced. The number of substitutions the team is permitted to make is not reduced. Play is restarted according to the previous decision (the throw-in for Team B).
","question":"The referee shows the player a second yellow card and a red card. The player is sent off and cannot be replaced – the substitution is not made.
","question":"The offender cannot be named on the team list or play in the match and is reported to the appropriate authority. The number of players and substitutes is not reduced. A red card is not shown as cards may not be shown until the referee enters the field of play at the start of the match.
","question":"The referee must stop play and have the person removed. After that, play restarts with a dropped ball for one player of the team that last touched the ball at the position where it last touched the spectator.
","question":"A named substitute may continue to play, no disciplinary action is taken and the matter is reported to the appropriate authorities.
","question":"The referee allows play to continue. Both players are not cautioned (yellow cards are not issued). The matter is reported after the match to the appropriate authorities.
","question":"A named substitute who is sent off, may not take part in the match and may not be replaced by another substitute. The number of substitutions the team is permitted to make is not reduced.
","question":"The team official must be sent off (red card, RC). Play is restarted with a direct free kick, or penalty kick if the offence occurs within the offender's penalty area.
","question":"The referee allows play to continue if the player have changed shirts. Both players must be cautioned (yellow card, YC) when the ball is next out of play.
","question":"Yes – if the ball was going into the goal, enters the goal and the interference does not prevent a defending player/goalkeeper playing the ball. The goal cannot be awarded if the ball goes into the fan's opponents' goal.
","question":"With a direct free kick from the position of the interference or with an indirect free kick from the position of the ball when play was stopped (if there was no interference).
","question":"Yes. A player who is sent off must not take part in the match. A player who was already named on the team list, may be replaced by a substitute (who may not be replaced) but this does not reduce the number of substitutions the team can make.
","question":"If a ball is going into the goal and the interference does not prevent a defending player playing the ball, the goal is awarded if the ball enters the goal (even if contact was made with the ball). The exception: the goal cannot be allowed if the ball enters the opponents’ goal.
","question":"The referee allows the named substitute to continue playing and:
\nno disciplinary sanction is taken against the named substitute
\nthe named player can become a named substitute
\nthe number of substitutions is not reduced
\nthe referee reports the incident to the appropriate authorities
\nThe referee is not obliged to stop play and the advantage may be played, but the match must not resume after the ball has gone out of play if a team does not have a minimum of seven players.
","question":"If a player refuses to be substituted, play continues.
","question":"Any person who is not a match official or on the team list (players, substitutes and team officials) - it may also be any animal, object, structure etc.
","question":"A named substitute may continue to play, no disciplinary action is taken and the matter is reported to the appropriate authorities.
","question":"In youth, veterans, disability and grassroots football, subject to the agreement of the national football association, confederation or FIFA.
","question":"Yes, provided that the referee is informed before the change is made and that the change is made during the stoppage in play before the penalty kick is taken.
","question":"The referee will stop play (unless advantage is played), send off (red card, RC) the coach and restart play with a direct free kick from the position of the interference – if this is in the penalty area of the coach’s team a penalty kick is awarded.
","question":"The player should be cautioned (yellow card, YC) for delaying the restart of play. A player being substituted must leave by the nearest point on the boundary line unless the referee indicates that the player may leave directly and immediately at the halfway line or another point (e.g. for safety/security or injury).
","question":"The dog is an ‘outside agent’ so the referee stops play and restarts with a dropped ball for the defending team goalkeeper in their penalty area.
","question":"